The Chairman invited Dr T. Spence, Director of the Joint Planning Office (JPO), to update the panel on GCOS activities since its second session. Dr Spence provided a brief review of the stages in the development of GCOS. He noted the early concept whereby a comprehensive observing system for climate was envisaged to integrate elements from the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface, utilizing both remote and in situ techniques. In the early discussions it was clear that the GCOS would be based, to the degree possible, on existing systems and programmes. Thus, the JSTC for GCOS identified an Initial Operational System (IOS) to enable it to begin implementing key parts of the programme immediately. To date, elements from the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface have been incorporated at varying levels into the IOS. The IOS also included a “comprehensive data system” which was intended to provide a structure and oversight for the voluminous streams of data that were anticipated from the various observing elements. Consequently, a data and information management structure was envisioned from the start. The current JDIMP is the latest innovation in the process of developing and implementing an effective system for the climate.
Although comprehensive plans for a data component for GCOS were developed, the components of an effective distributed data system as described in the plans is far from being realized. However, in the meantime, the need to consolidate the data functions of the G3OS became so apparent that the JSTC proposed that GOOS and GTOS join in the constitution of a single panel so that the data and information elements of the G3OS could be developed in a concerted fashion.
Dr Spence illustrated the structures of and the relationships among the three observing systems as they currently exist. He indicated several areas of cooperation that were being actively pursued through joint sponsorship (e.g., the GCOS/GOOS/WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC), the GCOS/GTOS Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC)) and noted a number of issues shared by the programmes.
He invited the panel to consider, during this session, how best to broaden its activities to support the data and information management activities of GOOS and GTOS. However, he urged it to continue to provide advice on some specific GCOS issues (e.g., the GCOS Surface Network (GSN) for which data management issues are arising; see 5.6). He observed that both programmes had indicated their willingness to participate in combined planning activities to the degree possible, but that a close cooperation will be required among the various steering committees, scientific panels, and other supportive groups, and finally, the user communities. He indicated several specific issues which the panel should consider.
Mr J. Withrow noted that the overview given by Dr Spence well described the structure of GOOS and its relation to the other global observing systems. He updated the panel on GOOS restructuring that, among other things, had resulted in the renaming of the Joint Scientific and Technical Committee for GOOS (J-GOOS) as the GOOS Steering Committee (GSC) and the incorporation in GSC of the former I-GOOS Strategy Sub-committee. Dr W. Nowlin, member of the JSTC, has been selected as the new chairman of the GSC. The GOOS Support Office was renamed the GOOS Project Office in view of its more pro-active role. The Intergovernmental Panel for GOOS (I-GOOS) remains in force under a new chairman, Dr A. McEwan, also a member of JSTC.
He referred participants to three documents under development for GOOS, the GOOS Principles, the GOOS Strategic Plan, and GOOS 1998. He noted that they will serve as key guiding documents for GOOS in the long, intermediate, and short term, respectively. Portions of the first two documents relevant to data and information management were provided for attendees. He noted that GOOS will work to implement several pilot projects, placing particular emphasis on capacity building, as it enters the next implementation phase. The recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel for GOOS considered Data Policy and organized an intersessional working group under the chairmanship of Dr D. Kohnke to develop a data policy statement.
He particularly noted the changes suggested by GOOS for the terms of reference for JDIMP:
(i) There should be a mention of efforts to assist developing countries to build up their capacity to participate fully in the G3OS’s;
(ii) JDIMP should take on board responsibility for designing an end-to-end data and information management system, including the development of products and services;
(iii) There should be specific mention of capitalizing on pre-existing data and information management systems to build the infrastructure of GOOS (and the other systems).
It was agreed that these would be addressed by an ad hoc group later in the session (see 7.1).
He added that GOOS will establish a Data and Information Service (DIS) with the following objectives to:
1. Implement the recommendations of DIMP to develop a distributed Data and Information Management System based on a hierarchy of local, national, regional and global institutions (e.g., a network of data centres);
2. Integrate these activities with those of existing oceanographic observing systems and programmes by appropriate means, through negotiation (e.g., the Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS), the Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Project (GTSPP), the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP), the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE), the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS), the volunteer Ship-of-Opportunity Programme (SOOP), and the WMO Commission for Marine Meteorology (CMM);
3. Coordinate the activities of the DIS;
4. Provide practical assistance in capacity building by working with developing Member States to identify appropriate data sets and demonstrate how these, either alone or in combination with others, may be turned into services and products valuable to local decision makers.
Mr N. Hasegawa, coordinator of the North-East Asian Regional GOOS (NEAR-GOOS), supplemented the comments on GOOS by describing some of the activities of this regional GOOS programme. NEAR-GOOS was initially begun in 1996. One of the first activities was to develop guidelines for data exchange which includes both real-time and delayed mode. Initially, issues were raised about the NEAR-GOOS data policy, but data will be provided free to all users interested in obtaining it and contributing to the database. Registration of users is required for security and to monitor utilization levels. Some further work is needed for the free exchange of some space-based data.
He noted that global oceanic data exchange is a relatively new concept, but it is hoped that projects such as NEAR-GOOS will encourage data sharing by convincing data providers of benefits of sharing information. NEAR-GOOS provides many opportunities and ways to provide data as indicated in the documents provided for the panel.
After being invited to note where JDIMP may be helpful, Mr Hasegawa suggested that JDIMP could be of assistance in filling gaps between regions, and in the exchange of data with other external activities and programmes. For example, little discussion has occurred between NEAR-GOOS and IGOSS or GTSPP to date. NEAR-GOOS is interested in obtaining other relevant information from activities outside its region of influence that are not currently on the WMO Global Telecommunication System (GTS).
Mrs G. Martin, member of the GTOS Steering Committee (SC) reported on the GTOS. It was created to improve accessibility, quality and use of the data needed to better understand changes in the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development and to make more informed decisions about how to manage change. Five priority issues have been identified - changes in land quality, freshwater resources, pollution and toxicity, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.
GTOS is sponsored by FAO, ICSU, UNEP, UNESCO, and WMO. The implementation began in a serious way approximately 18 months ago with the completion of the GTOS Planning Group Report[2] which was accepted ‘in principle’ by the GTOS sponsors. A secretariat was established, hosted by FAO, and the SC first met in December 1996 in Rome. A subset of the SC met in a “coordination and implementation” meeting in May 1997 to consider a draft document identifying priorities, principles, roles, etc. This document is now being finalized.
Specific initiatives to this point include a report on the data needs of the conventions, and the formation of several working groups. Preparations are underway for cooperative work with the other observing systems such as this Panel and the TOPC, as well as two other data-related activities, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS) database and the GTOS Network Demonstration Study (see 4.6).
Mrs L. Moodie described the initiative to develop and implement an Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS). The IGOS is intended to improve the integration of global space-based and in situ observation activities. Mrs Moodie noted that an IGOS would provide an overarching strategy for observations allowing those involved in the collection of data to extend their contributions, and assisting those requiring information (e.g., the G3OS participants) to specify their requirements in a consolidated fashion. A successful IGOS should help nations make better decisions in allocating resources to meet their priorities by taking advantage of improved international collaboration and cooperation. Required is a synergistic partnership involving:
(i) International, regional and national organizations with responsibilities for providing in situ observations;
(ii) Space agencies;
(iii) Science funding agencies; and
(iv) Agencies with operational responsibilities.
Mrs Moodie informed the panel that the International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA) has joined the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) to consider the IGOS concept through the work of a Strategic Implementation Team (SIT). The SIT is composed of senior-level officials of space agencies and representatives of a number of international scientific and intergovernmental organizations (e.g., G3OS and their sponsoring organizations) which represent user communities. The purpose of the SIT is to advance the development of an IGOS. At the first meeting of the SIT it agreed to pursue six prototype projects intended to demonstrate the added value of working cooperatively in an IGOS framework. The panel took note that several of them will be of importance in its future work.
During the course of the meeting, several invited presentations were made on behalf of various activities in Japan. These reports included Mr Haruyama on the recent loss of the ADEOS satellite link, Mr Hasegawa on activities of the JMA, and Mr K. Takahashi on the GEWEX Asian Monsoon.
Mr Haruyama reported that ADEOS-I was confirmed to be lost on 30 June 1997. NASDA established a Task Team to identify the cause of the accident and to assess the impact on NASDA's Earth observation plan in the future. So far it has been found by the Task Team that there were some anomalous power losses associated with the solar panels. The loss of power was apparently not sudden, but gradual losses were noted prior to the complete failure on 30 June. It is believed that the solar panels may have collapsed robbing the satellite of its power. The Task Team will draw further conclusions when it issues a full report within a month. Mr Haruyama informed the panel that the ADEOS-II mission will be kept on schedule, and that any modifications required as a result of the ADEOS-I problem will be addressed prior to launch in 1999.
Mr Hasegawa gave a presentation on some activities of the JMA which are related to data and information management. JMA serves as the World Data Centre on Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) and a Quality Assurance/Science Activity Centre (QA/SAC) within the framework of the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme. The JMA holds a substantial marine meteorological data set known as Kobe Collection. It is currently being digitized for the benefit of the climate user community. The JMA has also contributed actively to the WMO Distributed Databases (DDB). The JMA server, which provides climate and other meta data/products, is found at [http://ddb.kishou.go.jp].
Mr Takahashi of the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) of the JMA reported on the WCRP’s GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME) which was formally started in 1996 to understand the role of the Asian monsoon in the global energy and water cycle and to improve the simulation and seasonal prediction of Asian monsoon patterns and regional water resources. He summarized the strategies, activities, and future implementation plans of GAME, in particular those related to data and information management. He described the GAME Archive Information Network (GAIN), in which the MRI actively participates.
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[2] Global Terrestrial
Observing System (GTOS): Turning a sound concept into a practical reality.
UNEP/EAP.TR.95-08 |
